SWINDON'S councillors are a step nearer to voting for a £100,000 pay rise for themselves.

Last week an independent panel revealed their recommendations for increases to councillors' allowances and last night the Conservative cabinet approved the £102,900 rise.

The decision is still to be endorsed by the full council next month.

Council leader Mike Bawden, (Con, Old Town and Lawn) speaking at an open session before the meeting, said: "I'm on record as saying the Government should set allowances for councillors.

"When I started in local government we didn't get paid anything, but things have moved on."

The proposals are for the basic allowance for a councillor to rise from £7,000 to £7,250, while cabinet members' allowance of £6,000 would rise by £3,250.

The most significant rise would be for the leader himself, whose allowance would increase from £13,000 to £18,500.

Mr Bawden, who is due to step down from his position next year, said: "The amount of responsibility I've got as the current leader of the council is way in excess of that of a backbench member of parliament."

He also pointed out that councillors have to pay national insurance and income tax on the allowances.

Stuart Macpherson, of the independent review panel, said councillors are managing assets of £900 million, with a spending programme of £200m and employing 8,000 staff.

He said: "The basic allowance for backbenchers is £7,000 and the panel saw no reason that should be raised other than by inflation, but the big difference over the last few years is the increased responsibility which falls on the shoulders of the cabinet.

"I won't get involved in whether they are doing a good job. That is for the electors to decide at the ballot box."

The issue caused political fall-out earlier this week when Coun Andy Harrison (Lab, Penhill) resigned from the Labour group over the issue.

After attending the meeting he said: "I wasn't allowed to speak. I raised my finger and would like to have spoken.

"How can they justify making cuts to frontline services and yet have this increase.

"It's just not justifiable. The only chance councillors and the public will have to question this is at full council.

"It's quite atrocious. This is why I quit the labour group. Councillors should say publicly this is wrong.

"We should put the people we serve before increases in personal remunerations."

Labour group leader Kevin Small, who stands to benefit from a new allowance of £9,250, said: "The labour group will make a final decision on its response before full council meets.

"Andy Harrison wanted a freeze on allowances and the group did not support that position.

"I'm sad but it's his decision."